Aussies Scrape into Quarter Finals of the Asian Cup

From Skysports

http://msnsport.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=477180&CPID=217&clid=575&lid=554&title=Aussies+scrape+through&channel=&

[quote] Australia grabbed their first win of the Asian Cup and booked their place in the last eight.

The Socceroos convincingly beat Thailand 4-0 to secure their passage into the quarter finals.

Australia had taken the lead on 21 minutes when Michael Beauchamp headed home Luke Wilkshire's cross.

Suchao Nutnum and Kiatisuk Senamuang both went close before the break as the Thais, who only needed a draw to progress, looked for an equaliser.

Indeed after the break Thailand dominated play, but they could not find a way through as Australia struck three times in the final ten minutes to wrap up victory.

Mark Viduka led by example and doubled Australia's advantage on 80 minutes, and he added a second just minutes later.

The win was wrapped up by substitute Harry Kewell who fired home from close-range.

Australia will face Japan in the quarter finals.


From what i've heard the scoreline is very flattering for the roo's.
Sounds like they came into the competition as favorites believing their own press and all the hype and very nearly came a cropper (sound familiar?).
Good luck to them against Japan on saturday, I think they'll need it.

I've watched a few games - or bits of to be precise - while channel hopping.

Some interesting games beckon with the knock out stages about to begin.

I watched the game last night. The Aussies were battered by the Thais for most of the second half until Viduka scored the second goal, it was not a 4-0 game by any stretch of the imagination and the Aussie coach bigging up his team in the paper today is a joke - they could easily have lost and it wouldn't have been a fluke. Japan, however, looked very solid last night as they thrashed Vietnam.

GDG wrote:

the Aussie coach bigging up his team in the paper today is a joke - they could easily have lost and it wouldn't have been a fluke.

The Aussies were very lucky indeed. The coach, Graham Arnold, hasn't a clue. I don't think he's really 'bigging up' the team, more like trying to save his own skin. He's much too close to the players and is totally unable to fire up the likes of Viduka or Kewell. This is basically the same team that did so well in Germany. Just goes to show what a superb coach Gus Hiddink is.

I know he's trying to save his job, but anybody with half a football brain would know that his comments today were bollocks. Although given that there probably aren't many Aussies with half a football brain he may know his market better than I do.

GDG wrote:

given that there probably aren't many Aussies with half a football brain he may know his market better than I do.

Ouch - lucky I'm a Pom then, but I'm sure a few Aussies would probably like to remind us of the result of the friendly played against us at Upton Park a few years ago, not to mention a much better WC performance than England, and general allover sporting prowess against us English. They do have a tremendous number of talented football players - just seem unable to produce a decent home-grown coach. Now which other country does that remind me of?

ozspur wrote:

GDG wrote:

given that there probably aren't many Aussies with half a football brain he may know his market better than I do.

Ouch - lucky I'm a Pom then, but I'm sure a few Aussies would probably like to remind us of the result of the friendly played against us at Upton Park a few years ago, not to mention a much better WC performance than England, and general allover sporting prowess against us English. They do have a tremendous number of talented football players - just seem unable to produce a decent home-grown coach. Now which other country does that remind me of?

Bet you had Gibraltar on the tip of your tongue Ozspur ! !!

[quote="Hairy"]

ozspur wrote:

GDG wrote:

given that there probably aren't many Aussies with half a football brain he may know his market better than I do.

Bet you had Gibraltar on the tip of your tongue Ozspur ! !!

Just the place I was thinking of